Mail-distributing rack.



No. 808,318. PATENTEDDEC. 26, 1905.

G. THOMAS & J S. GREECE.

MAIL DISTRIBUTING RACK. Arrmm'mon FILED sm'f. 27, 1905.

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- PATENTED DEC. 26, 1905. G. THOMAS & J. S. GREECE.

MAIL DISTRIBUTING RACK.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1905.

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W'iAlL-DlSTRlBUTlNG RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

Application filed September 27,1905. Serial No. 230,380.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE Ti-ion'As and J OSHUA S. Gannon, citizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail- Distributing Racks, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable'others skilled in the art to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to distributing-cases for postal employees; and one object of the same is to improve the general construction and details of this class of devices.

Another object is to provide a light, strong, eflicient bag-supporting frame which shall set low and be provided with a strong open-work metal base.

Still another object is to provide a bag-rack which shall be made entirely of gas-pipes and provided with an open-work base and bag-- hooks of improved construction.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a series of bag-racks which may be placed side by side to form a segment of a circle of such dimensions that three persons may distribute mail into the sacks at the same time and to also provide a running-board or platform for the mail provided with seats for the employees, a table which may be readily moved from one end to the other of the distributing-case, and a desk or box, also interchangeable from one end to the other of the running-board or platform.

These and other objects are attained by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a distributing-case made up of a number of bag-rack frames and showing the general arrangement of parts of the distributing-case as a whole. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the bagrack sections or frames. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the base portion of said rack. Fig. 4: is a plan view of the wire-cloth or metal openwork base adapted to rest upon the frame shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the running-board or table for the letters, papers, and packages to be distributed. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a removable table. Fig. 7 is a side view of one of the front casters of the rack section or frame. Fig. 8 is a similar view of one of the rear casters of the same. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the desk or box adapted to be secured at one end of the running-board. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the bag-hooks. Figs. 11 and 12 are end and front views, respectively, of the holders for the location-cards secured in readable position to the rack-frames. Fig, 13 is a side view of the seats for the operators or distributers.

Referring to the drawings for a more par ticular description of the invention, the numeral l designates one section of the case and comprises a metal framework the upper portion of which is composed of gas-pipe side and end bars 2, a central longitudinal bar 3, and a suitable number of .transverse bars 4. The supporting-legs 5 are also formed of gas pipe. The framework of the base portion is also made up of gas-pipe, as shown in Fig. 3, and consists of side and end bars 2, the longitudinal bar 3, and the transverse bare t. The longitudinal bars 2 2 and 3 of the base portion and the longitudinal bars 2 2 and 3 of the upper portion of the framework of each section are curved all in the same direction, and the latter bars 2 2 and 3 form a rack upon which the hooks for the mail bags or pouches are mounted, and the length of these bars 2 2 and 3 is such that the ends of the rack overhang the legs 5. one or more tiers or ranks of them can be arranged around the position of the mail distributer or distributers, and when two distributers are working every portion of the case is accessible to each without as much interference as when straight distributing-cases are used.

An open-work or wire-cloth screen or base 6 rests upon the framework of the base and permits the operators to see under the base to detect any pieces of mail that may have dropped on the floor. Moreover, the Wire screen will not permit the collection of dust and dirt.

The rack-section 1 is mounted upon casters, the front caster 8 (shown in Fig. 7) being secured to a metal strap 9, having depending hooks 10, said hooks being secured at the corners of the longitudinal pipes 2 of the baseframe. The rear casters 8 are secured to a similar metal strap 9, provided with upwardlyextending books 10. By this arrangement of casters the rear portion of the section 1 is elevated to give the required lateral slant or incline toward the position of the operator at or near the center of the case and to thus permit the sections 1 to be made of pieces of pipe substantially uniform in length.

The base-screen 6 is located at such relative By thus curving the sections distance from the upper portion of the rack 1 that when the bags are suspended from the hooks 11 the lower end of the bag will rest upon the screen 6 and relieve the hooks 11 from exeessi ve weight when the bags are filled.

The running-board or platform 12 has a curved longitudinal side 13, the curvature of which is substantially concentric with the as sembled rack-sections and is provided with a guard-rail of suitable height, said, runningboard or table fitting within the inner series of sections of bag-racks to form a case complete, as shown in Fig. 1, and is provided with suitable bolts 14 for securing it in place at one end to a table 15. The longitudinal side edge of the running-board opposite the rack-section is, about mediate its ends, made straight, thus making that portion of it in front of the distributers wider. The runningboard or table is supported upon gas-pipelegs 16, which may be bolted to the floor. The table 15 consists of the gas-pipe legs 17, the base portion 18 having a smooth top plate or board 19, said table being mounted upon casters 20 to render it movable from one end to the other of the case. The side boards 21 of this table are removable and reversible thereon, said side boards having pivoted latches 22, adapted to engage keepers 23 at the sides and ends of the table 15. A desk or box 2 1 is supported at one end of therunning-board 12 by means of the hooks 25, asshown in Fig. 9, said desk or box being removable and interchangeable from one end to the other of said running-board. Seats 27 are mounted to slide in suitable keepers underneath the runningboard, said seats being readily pushed back out of the way when not in use. A drawer 28 is arranged to slide under the wider portion of the running-board 12 to provide compartments for filing the various slips referring to different railway post-offices.

As shown in Fig. 11, the bag-hooks consist of a ring portion 29, adapted to slide upon the bars of the bag-rack, the hook portion 30 of said hook having a terminal point or bill provided with an enlargement 31 to prevent the bags from slipping off the end of the hooks. It will be noted that the enlargement 31 extends only upon the rear portion of the hook, the front portion being smooth and forming an unbroken surface.

Whenever bags are hung, it is customary to hang or fasten cards to indicate the destination of the same. holders, which are shown in Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings and consist of a slitted cylindrical clip 35, the lips of which embrace bar 3 and the higher bar 2 of the rack-frame. The clip is provided with a thicker central portion, and to this is fastened a card-holder 26, consisting of a rectangular strip of sheet metal, the horizontal edges of which are curled back upon themselves to form retaining- This is accomplished by grooves for the edges of the card inserted therebetween.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that this invention provides a strong durable distributing-case and one provided with many features of convenience and value to postal employees, while every section or portion of the case may be readily moved upon its casters from place to place to transfer the bags of mail, the base-screen serving to sustain the weight of the bags and to prevent undue strain upon the hooks.

W'hat we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A distributing-case comprisingsections, each section being made up of metal tubes properly secured together, a base-support made up of metal tubes and an open-wire screen resting upon the base-frame, each section being curved and mounted upon casters, substantially as described.

2. A section for a distributing-case comprising the curved upper portion made up of metal tubes, the supporting-legs therefor, the base-frame made up of metal tubes and secured to the legs, the open-work metal screen resting upon the base-frame, and the casters secured to the straps extending diagonally across the corners of the base-frame, the front casters mounted upon a metal strap having downwardly-extending hooks, and the rear casters mounted upon metal straps having upwardly-extending hooks, for the purpose d eseribed.

3. In a distributing-case, aseries of bagracks, arranged as described, a running-board, a table mounted upon casters and arranged at one end of the distributing-case, said table being provided with interchangeable side boards, secured thereto by reversible latches, substantially as described.

at. A distributing-case comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections, and a running-board having a curved longitudinal edge to which said seetions are placed parallel.

5. A distributing-case comprising several tiers of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections, and a running-board having a curved longitudinal edge to which said sections are placed parallel.

6. A distributing-case comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections the longitudinal sides of which are curved, and a running-board having a curved edge to which the curved sides of said section are substantially parallel.

7. A distributing-case comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections the longitudinal sides of which are correspondingly curved, and a running-board having a curved edge to which the curved sides of said section are substantially parallel.

8. A distributing-case comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections having a laterally-inclined rack-frame, and a running-board having a curved longitudinal edge to which said sections are placed parallel.

9. A distributing-case comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections each having a rack-frame which is inclined laterally and has its longitudinal sides'curved, and a running-board having a curved longitudinal edge to which said sections are placed in parallel order.

10. A distributing-case comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections having rack-frames the ends of which overhang the supporting-legs thereof, and a running-board having a curved longitudinal edge to which said sections are placed parallel.

11. A distributing-case comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections having rack-frames the ends of which overhang the supporting-legs and thelongitudinal sides of which are curved, and a running-board having a curved longi tudinal edge to which said rack-frames are placed parallel.

12. A distributing-case comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections having rack-frames which incline laterally, and have ends that overhang the supporting-legs thereof, and a running-board havinga curved longitudinal edge to which said rack-frames are parallel.

13. A distributing-case comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections having rack-frames which are inclined laterally, the longitudinal sides of which are curved and the ends of which overhang the supporting-legs, and a runningboard having a curved longitudinal edge to which said rack-frames are placed parallel.

1 1. A distributingcase comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections, a running-board having a curved longitudinal edge to which said sections are placed parallel and having a portion of its opposite side edge straight.

15. A distributing-case comprisinga series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections, a running-board having a curved longitudinal edge to which said sections are placed parallel and having a portion of its opposite side edge straight, and a transverse drawer suitably secured under said straight edge.

16. A distributing-case comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections the longitudinal sides of which are correspondingly curved, a runningboard having a curved edge to which the curved sides of said section are substantially parallel and having a portion of its opposite side edge straight.

curved sides of said section are substantially parallel, and havinga portion of its opposite side edge straight, and a transverse drawer suitably secured under said straight edge.

18. A distributing-case comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections each having a rack-frame which is inclined laterally and has its longitudinal sides curved, a running-board having a curved longitudinal edge to which said sections are placed in parallel order and having a portion of its opposite side edge straight.

19. A distributing-case comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections each having a rack-frame which is inclined laterally and has its longitudinal sides curved, a running-board having a curved longitudinal edge to which said sections are placed in parallel order and having a portion of its opposite side edge straight, and atransverse drawer suitably secured under said straight edge.

20. A distributing-case comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections having rack-frames the ends of which overhang the supporting-legs and the longitudinal sides of which are curved, a running-board having a curved longitudinal edge to which said rack-frames are placed parallel, and having a portion of its opposite side edge straight.

21. A distributing-case comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections having rack-frarnes the ends of which overhang the supporting-legs and the longitudinal sides of which are curved, a running-board having a curved longitudinal edge to which said rack-frames are placed parallel, and having a portion of its opposite side edge straight, and a transverse drawer suitably secured under said straight edge.

22. A distributing-case comprising several tiers of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections, a running-board having a curved longitudinal edge to which said sections are placed parallel, and a removable table reversibly secured to the opposite ends of said running-board.

23. A distributing-case comprising several tiers of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections, a running-board having a curved longitudinal edge to which said sections are placed parallel, a removable table, and a removable desk interchangeably secured to opposite ends of said running-board.

2 1. A distributing-case comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections the longitudinal sides of which are correspondingly curved, a runningboard having a curved edge to which the curved sides of said sections are substantially parallel, and a removable table reversibly secured to the opposite ends of said runningboard.

25. A distributing-case comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections the longitudinal sides of which are correspondingly curved, a runningboard having a curved edge to which the curved sides of said section are substantially parallel, and a removable table and a removable desk interchangeably secured to opposite endsrot' said runningboard.

26. A distributing-case comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections each having arack-frame which'is inclined laterally and has its longitudinal sides curved, a running-board having a curved longitudinal edge to which said sections are placed in parallel order, and a removable table reversibly secured to opposite ends of said running-board.

2'7. A distributing-case comprising a series of substantially concentrically arranged independent sections each having a rack-frame which is inclined laterally and has its longitudinal sides curved, a running-board having a curved longitudinal edge to which said sections are placed in parallel order, a removable table and a removable desk interchangeably dependent sections having rack-frames the ends of which overhang the supporting-legs and the longitudinal sides of which are curved, a running-board having a curved longitudinal edge to which said rack frames are placed parallel, a removable table and a removable desk interchangeably secured to opposite ends of said running-board.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 13th day of September, A. D. 1905.

GEORGE THOMAS. JOSHUA S. OREEOH.

Witnesses:

FRANK D. TI-IOMASON, E. K. LUNDY. 

